Your selection of a new midsize SUV can affect your comfort level and budget for years to come, and it can also play a role in your overall safety.

Because of how large and well-designed many midsize SUVs are, you may reasonably assume that the safety ratings for each of the stylish vehicles in this class would be similar, but you would be wrong with your assumption.

Almost two dozen vehicles in the midsize SUV class were tested in various safety areas by the IIHS, or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety/Highway Loss Data Institute.

If you are trying to decide between buying one of the Hyundai midsize SUVs or the GMC Acadia, you may be interested in learning how the safety ratings for these three vehicles stack up against each other.

SUV buyers must find a vehicle that is affordable to drive and that meets their needs for power, passenger seating, storage, and more. You also need to find a safe vehicle that has excellent IIHS test scores in all relevant safety areas.

Keep in mind that safety test scores, accident statistics, and other related details may be factored into your auto insurance premium. This means that the safety ratings on your new SUV may impact your budget through the cost of auto insurance.

A Look at the Safety Categories

When you are trying to decide between buying a GMC or Hyundai midsize SUV in 2017, you may be curious about which vehicle may be more protective of you and your vehicle’s passengers if you are in a collision.

This is an area that is analyzed by the five Crashworthiness safety tests, which include Front Small Overlap, Head Restraint and Seats, Side, Roof Strength, and Front Moderate Overlap.

Some vehicles on the market today are specially designed to help you avoid or mitigate the severity of a collision, and the Front Crash Prevention test and the Headlights test analyze this for you.

For automotive buyers who intend to install a child safety seat in the backseat of their new SUV, the LATCH safety section for child seat anchors should be reviewed carefully.

The LATCH test from the IIHS indicates how easy it may be for you to install a car seat properly in each model.

– Crashworthiness

The Acadia, Santa Fe, and Santa Fe Sport each had a “good” rating in all five of these critical test areas.

– Crash Avoidance and Mitigation

All three of the GMC and Hyundai models in this vehicle class were given “superior” marks for the Front Crash Prevention test.

However, while the Santa Fe received a “good” mark for Headlights, the GMC Acadia received a “marginal” score in this area. The Santa Fe Plus only rated with a “poor” score for Headlights.

– Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)

The three Hyundai and GMC SUVs analyzed in this vehicle class garnered an “average” score for LATCH. While none of these SUVs received the highest rating possible for

While none of these SUVs received the highest rating possible for the LATCH system, they received the next highest rating possible.

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2017 Top Safety Pick and/or 2017 Top Safety Pick+

If you are looking for an easy way to analyze and compare test results, consider paying attention to which models received the Top Safety Pick+ or Top Safety Pick honors from the IIHS.

The GMC Acadia for 2017 and the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport received the award for Top Safety Pick.

This award is given to vehicles that have a “good” Crashworthiness rating in all five categories as well as a higher score for Front Crash Prevention.

The Top Safety Pick+ honor was doled out to the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. This award requires the vehicle to meet all requirements for the previous award, but it goes a step further by requiring the vehicle to rank highly in the Headlights safety test.

Is Hyundai safer than GMC in 2017 for midsize SUVs?

The 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe ranked at the top of the list of all midsize SUV models reviewed by the IIHS in 2017, but the GMC Acadia and Santa Fe Sport each differed from the Santa Fe only in the area of Headlights.

In addition, all three of these models received acknowledgment of their excellent safety capabilities from the IIHS.

Request Auto Insurance Quotes Today

Safety ratings are only one of several important factors to review when you are making an SUV buying decision.

For example, you also need to find an SUV that is affordable to buy, and the sales price, fuel economy, and auto insurance rates play into the cost of ownership.

Safety ratings, engine power, and many other factors drive SUV insurance rates, so the best step to take is to request a few insurance quotes for each of the SUV models at the top of your list of options.

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